The 9 Best 404 Plugins for WordPress

If your users are looking for something in your blog, but the content does not exist (or they mistakenly type a URL that does not lead to any page), a 404 error page will be displayed.

You should worry about this (and find a solution), in order to redirect the visitors to your other blog pages.

In this post, I’m going to list the nine best WordPress plugins that allow you to handle the 404 page (I’m using the #8 in this list, which includes almost all the features of the other plugins mentioned in this page).

1. Google 404

The Google 404 plugin has the capability to enter a search window in your custom 404 page so as to provide the reader with information that he needs.

Also, if possible, it will also suggest other ways to find the information that the visitor needs, or what he’s searching for, increasing the probabilities that they will remain on your site.

You will improve the users experience on your blog, increasing the duration of their visits.

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404 Pro WordPress plugin is free (not as the name may let you imagine) and grants a really interesting feature: it saves all the keywords used by your visitors to land to error page, also including custom filters to dig more into this option.

7. 404 Error Logger

404 Error Logger is kinda different from the other plugins listed in this post, as it doesn’t help you setting your 404 error page, but it just saves handy notes.

It lets you record details like IP addresses, browsers and referrer URLs. You can then use all of this data to fix your broken pages.

I’ve read that some users are reporting issues when working with caching plugins, while it does run without problems with W3 Total Cache and WP Super Cache plugins.

8. Redirection

Redirection is the most popular WordPress plugin in this list, with more than 400,000 active installs, at the time of this writing.

It has several features, doing almost everything all the other plugins mentioned in this article do.

And it’s the one I’m using right now for NoPassiveIncome blog.

You can add 301 redirections of 404 pages or choosing to redirect all URLs – not just “Not found” errors.

I particularly like the “log” and “404s” otpions, where you can monitor all the activities of the plugin, with date, source URL, referrer and IP.

For more information, check this Github repository, managed by the plugin developer, John Godley.

9. Smart 404

Smart 404 is the WordPress plugin I was using to manage my 404 page, before installing “Redirection”.

This plugin automatically searches the website for similar kind of content and redirect the user to that specified page.

I’d be careful redirecting automatically, especially all to homepage. There are many ways to create headaches for youself doing this. I like that most of the plugins you’ve listed show a log or history as well as give you options to customize where you’re forwarding people.

If possible, you always want the 404 to display so you can see it in Search Console and find it. 404 errors could pop up all over the place and you’d never know if you were just forwarding them along. Also, it’s not really the best SEO practice to do generic redirection. If you can get it right, that’s awesome and some of these plugins def help.

I like custom 404 – a bit of a sitemap so users can find their way but the 404 remains. I think it’s most helpful this way.

Nice tips you have here, you can add widgets in the sidebar like popular post or most commented posts or a tag cloud to give people a lead. It helps reduce bounce rate and add adds to the design value.

The solution you use is good too, but it would be nice to know the path of your users, when landing on a 404 page on your site.
Plus, the data you can get may help you improve the conversions at your place.

Yes, do check the other plugins too, in particular “Redirection” is my suggestion.

Hii Erik,
One of the best articles to describe about redirection. Well, these plugins are very helpful in redirection. But, a simple code can also does same task. Just want to know that which method is best for this, as, Plugins may increase database size too.
-Nitin

Nice post, I am using redirection pluging for 404 page. I am not aware of other plugins, I have note down all plugins which you have mentioned over here and will share with my friends and clients if they needed.

404 page is a pain. The 9 “404” plugins for WordPress can give the page a new and better design that could help in removing the pain every website visitor feels.

I like Google 404 a lot since it gives suggestions of possible links where we might find the things we’re looking for. This will spice up user-experience. Great and it is a must read. I’m going to share this article!

Still using the ninja affiliate plugin? Is that still being supported? I used it a couple of years ago, but have since switched to Pretty Link, which gives me no problems in combination with the SEO redirection plugin.

Thanks for sharing this info. I have tried some of them and they are good but I had made do the one provided by my theme in order to reduce the number of plugins. I do agree that customizing your 404 error messages can be a booster in terms of engagement .Have a splendid weekend. Take Care

Hi Ikechi,
if you are on shared hosting, I’m sure you better reduce the number of the plugins used, so to not waste too many resources and avoid the risk to have your account suspended.
Thanks for checking out the post, have a good week.

Recently I got a hit for the 404 error. This seems a great list of resources to get rid of this problem.

All 404 Redirect to HomePage. 404 to 301 are a good & simple solution to those errors. 404Page sounds interesting as as I will be able to customize it like other content using the same WordPress editor. But personnaly as a Genesis user I would like to go with Genesis 404Page.

This is an important topic in the SEO field you just discuss here, some webmasters still don’t know or understand how important Google take the issue of 404 error code to user experience

So you’ve done a great job here by listing some of the finest WordPress plugins that make the process easier to implement.

I use the Genesis 404 error plugin together with “display post shortcode” WordPress plugin. So on the 404 error page user will always get a list of the blog most recent publications – I chose to display 10 most recent posts on the 404 error page.

This will provide users with an alternative information to check out, and improve time on site.

Hi Erik,
404 pages are not only annoying but also bad for SEO.
I had so many broken pages created because of some of the posts I deleted months ago. I use redirection plugin to send my traffic from broken links to any page that I decide. This plugin is very handy and offers tons of other features too.
I would like to try out the Google plugin you mentioned. As search box can get users search what they want when a page is missing.